Shloka 51
Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana
The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva
गुरुदो ललितोऽभेदो भावात्मात्मनि संस्थितः । वीरेश्वरो वीरभद्रो वीरासनविधिर्गुरुः
gurudo lalito'bhedo bhāvātmātmani saṃsthitaḥ | vīreśvaro vīrabhadro vīrāsanavidhirguruḥ
അവൻ ഗുരു-പ്രദാതാവ്, ലളിത ലീലാമയനായ പ്രഭു, പരമതത്ത്വത്തോട് അഭേദൻ, ഭാവസ്വരൂപനായി ആത്മയിൽ സ്ഥാപിതൻ. അവൻ തന്നെയാണ് വീരേശ്വരൻ, അവൻ തന്നെയാണ് വീരഭദ്രൻ, വീരാസനവിധി ഉപദേശിക്കുന്ന ഗുരുവും അവൻ തന്നേ.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse identifies Śiva as both the inner Self and the compassionate Guru-principle: non-dual (abheda), established in the ātman, yet accessible through bhāva (devotional disposition). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, Pati (Śiva) grants right knowledge and grace that loosens pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (soul).
By naming forms like Vīreśvara and Vīrabhadra, it supports Saguna worship—approaching Śiva through specific manifestations—while simultaneously affirming his abheda nature, i.e., the same Lord is ultimately the inner Reality beyond form, also worshipped through the Śiva-liṅga.
It points to meditative steadiness through vīrāsana (a stable yogic seat) under the guidance of the Guru, supporting japa and dhyāna—especially practices aligned with Śaiva devotion such as mantra-recitation (e.g., pañcākṣarī) and contemplative turning inward to the ātman.